WHO Puts Lung Cancer at 2.5 Million Cases as Doctor Flags Radon, Pollution Risks

Q: If you have never smoked a day in your life, what invisible threat in your own home could still trigger lung cancer?

Radon gas is the key invisible threat. It is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that you cannot see, smell or taste, and it can build up inside homes over time. Health experts say radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among people who have never smoked and the second leading cause overall after smoking. It seeps in from soil and rock beneath buildings and can accumulate in basements, crawl spaces and even upper levels, depending on the home. Any home can have elevated levels, including new or well-sealed houses. The risk comes from breathing in radioactive particles produced as radon breaks down. Over years, that exposure can damage lung cells and raise cancer risk. Public health agencies estimate radon causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year in the United States, including roughly 2,900 among never-smokers. Because radon has no immediate symptoms or warning signs, testing is the only reliable way to know if your home has a problem. Inexpensive test kits are widely available, and professional testing is also an option. The EPA recommends fixing a home when radon levels are 4 pCi/L or higher, and many experts advise considering reduction even between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Mitigation systems installed by certified professionals can substantially lower radon levels. Even for people who never smoked, experts stress that prevention means reducing proven exposures such as radon, secondhand smoke, air pollution and workplace carcinogens.

2 articles · Updated · The Times of India · Aug 11

Lung cancer is not confined to smokers, Dr Anil Kamath said, pointing to family history, secondhand smoke, radon, air pollution and workplace exposures as meaningful risks.
Smoking remains the biggest preventable driver, and WHO estimates lung cancer caused 2.5 million new cases and 1.8 million deaths worldwide in 2022, the leading toll among cancers.
Quitting tobacco still cuts risk even after years of smoking, he said, while cutting down is not equivalent to stopping; counselling, behavioural support and medicines can improve quit rates.
Smoke-free homes and cars can reduce secondhand exposure, and prevention is better framed as lowering repeated harmful exposures than relying on foods, vitamins or supplements.

Sources

The Times of India9d ago

Dr Anil Kamath Details Lung Cancer Risks Beyond Smoking, Including Environmental Factors

Daijiworld.com8d ago

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2 total

The Times of India9d ago

Dr Anil Kamath Details Lung Cancer Risks Beyond Smoking, Including Environmental Factors

Daijiworld.com8d ago

What you can change before a lung cancer diagnosis changes everything - Daijiworld.com

WHO Puts Lung Cancer at 2.5 Million Cases as Doctor Flags Radon, Pollution Risks

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